Independent Democrats in state Senate could play kingmaker

7:17 PM,
Nov. 12, 2012

Written by

Jon Campbell
Albany Bureau

As Democrats and Republicans anxiously wait to dig into absentee ballots, a breakaway caucus of four senators could play kingmaker in the still-undecided battle for control of the state Senate.

The Independent Democratic Conference split from its party's caucus in early 2011, declaring its distaste for a conference whose previous two-year stint in the majority was marked by chaos and an attempted Republican coup.

Now, the group led by Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, is being courted by both Democrats and the GOP as at least two undecided Senate races head for recounts and paper ballots. ...